NBC axes “Life,” picks up six new shows

Once again getting a jump on its rivals, NBC unveiled some of its plans for next season. (We say “some,” because NBC won’t announce its fall schedule until May 19). Among the highlights:

— The network picked up six new shows, including two shot here in the Bay Area — “Trauma” and “Parenthood.”

— Damien Lewis’ police drama, “Life,” has been officially canceled.

— Renewal orders were issued to “Heroes,” “Southland,” and “Parks and Recreation.” (Still awaiting word on “Chuck” and “My Name Is Earl”).

— NBC insists it is ready to air another season of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” with or without its main stars, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, who are holding out for raises.

Here is the official NBC press release:

NEW YORK CITY – May 4, 2009 – NBC unveiled today a strong lineup of broad and diverse quality programming for the 2009-2010 television season announcing the pickups of six new series featuring four new dramas including “Trauma,” “Parenthood,” “Mercy” and the event series “Day One,” as well as two new comedies including “Community” and “100 Questions.” Four returning series pickups were also announced today including “Heroes,” “Southland,” “Parks and Recreation” and the addition of six new episodes of “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday” skewering today’s top stories in live half-hour primetime shows.

The new and returning series will launch next season and the epic event series “Day One” is slated to premiere out of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
“The Jay Leno Show” will be broadcast Monday-Fridays, 10-11 p.m. ET beginning in the fall. Previously announced series pickups include “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “The Biggest Loser,” “The Celebrity Apprentice,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Friday Night Lights,” and new alternative series “The Marriage Ref,” “Breakthrough With Tony Robbins” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Additional series pickups will be announced May 19, when NBC announces its 2009-2010 schedule.

NBC unveiled pickups for the upcoming broadcast season in the first of a series of presentations today and tomorrow to key advertisers from Studio 8H—the home of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”—at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Presentations will continue in Chicago on May 7 and Los Angeles on May 12.

“We are thrilled to be announcing such an awesome slate of new series that build on our existing quality brand and deliver emotional, human stories,” said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. “NBC will strive to make viewers feel and our shows represent the full range of human emotion from laughter to tears. We can’t wait to share these concepts with our audience and our advertising partners.”

“These new series will showcase fresh talent and bold, original concepts that are extremely well executed,” said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. “We are grateful to the producers, casts and crews — and our team — who have delivered incredibly compelling and entertaining new series.”

In response to an evolving media marketplace and the changing needs of advertisers, NBC has created a more innovative, client-centric approach to its traditional Upfront with a series of one-on-one client presentations, which began today in New York City. These presentations are interactive and, unlike other networks’ Upfront presentations, will include a Q & A with advertisers and NBC sales and entertainment executives.

NBC will also host advertisers and affiliates at a “Night of Comedy” featuring appearances by some of its biggest comedy stars including Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Rainn Wilson and Tracy Morgan on Tuesday, May 19 in New York City.

2009-2010 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

New Dramas

PARENTHOOD
From the executive producers of the box-office hit “Parenthood” — Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (Oscar winners for “A Beautiful Mind”), and writer/executive producer Jason Katims (“Friday Night Lights”) — this contemporary re-imagining of the blockbuster film depicts the colorful and imperfect Braverman family — four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and joy of being parents. The star-studded cast includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen and Sarah Ramos. When Sarah Braverman (Tierney, “ER”), a financially strapped single mother, returns home to her parents and siblings in Berkeley, Calif. after packing up her Fresno apartment and uprooting her two inconvenienced kids, Amber (Mae Whitman, “In Treatment”) and Drew (Miles Heizer, “ER”), she is greeted by her opinionated father, Zeek (Nelson, “Family Stone,” “Coach”), and strong mother, Camille (Bedelia, “Heart Like a Wheel”), who are privately dealing with their own marital issues. As Sarah is reunited with her siblings — sister, Julia (Christensen, “Traffic”), and brothers Crosby (Shepard, “Baby Mama”) and Adam (Krause, “Six Feet Under”) — all struggling with issues of their own, it’s clear that the Braverman reunion is just what they need to face the everyday challenges of modern family life. “Parenthood” is a production from Imagine Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme (“The West Wing”) directs the pilot.

TRAUMA
Executive producer Peter Berg (NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”) delivers “Trauma,” the first high-octane medical drama series to live exclusively in the field where the real action is. Like an adrenaline shot to the heart, “Trauma” is an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco General is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach their victims in time. From the heights of the city’s Transamerica Pyramid to the depths of the San Francisco Bay, these heroes must face the most extreme conditions to save lives — and give meaning to their own existence in the process. Starring in “Trauma” are Derek Luke (“Notorious”), Cliff Curtis (“10,000 B.C”), Anastasia Griffith (“Damages”), Aimee Garcia (“George Lopez”), Kevin Rankin (“Friday Night Lights”) and Jamey Sheridan (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”). “Trauma” is a production of Universal Media Studios and Film 44. Berg, Sarah Aubrey (“Bad Santa,” “Friday Night Lights”), Dario Scardapane and Jeffrey Reiner (“Friday Night Lights”) serve as executive producers. The pilot was written by Scardapane and directed by Reiner.

MERCY
“Mercy,” a new medical drama with a unique point of view, portrays the lives of the staff at Mercy Hospital as seen through the eyes of those who know it best — its nurses. Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling, “Dark Matter”) returns to Mercy from a military tour in Iraq — and she knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jamie Lee Kirchner, “Rescue Me”) and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, “Gossip Girl”), Callahan navigates through the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world. The cast also includes: James Tupper (“Men in Trees”) as Dr. Chris Sands, a new doctor at the hospital who complicates Veronica’s life; Diego Klattenhoff (“Supernatural”) as Mike Callahan, Veronica’s husband; and Guillermo Diaz (“Weeds”) as Nurse Angel Lopez. “Mercy” is a production from Universal Media Studios and Berman Braun. Joining writer/executive producers Liz Heldens (NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”) and Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts (“Pushing Daisies,” “Pepper Dennis”) are executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein (NBC’s “30 Rock,” “Rescue Me”) is the director.

DAY ONE
From executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander (“Heroes,” “Lost,” “Alias”) and director Alex Graves (“Fringe,” “Journeyman”), “Day One” tells the story of life on earth following a global catastrophe that has devastated the world’s infrastructures. Beginning with the immediate aftermath of the cataclysmic event, an eclectic band of survivors — played by Adam Campbell (“Date Movie”), Catherine Dent (“The Shield”), Julie Gonzalo (“Eli Stone”), David Lyons (“ER”), Derek Mio (“Greek”), Carly Pope (“24”), Thekla Reuten (“Sleeper Cell”) and Addison Timlin (“Cashmere Mafia”) — strives to rebuild society as they unravel the mysteries of what happened and face their uncertain future. The group, all residents of one apartment building in suburban Van Nuys, Calif., embarks on a quest for survival and discovers that hope is found in small victories — and heroes are born every day. “Day One” is a Universal Media Studios production.

New Comedies

100 QUESTIONS (fka “100 Questions for Charlotte Payne”) Emmy winner James Burrows (“Will & Grace,” “Friends”) directs “100 Questions,” a new comedy series written and executive-produced by Christopher Moynihan (“For Your Consideration”) that provides hilarious answers to 100 questions about love. Charlotte Payne (Sophie Winkleman, “Peep Show”) is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals — but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor Ravi (Amir Talai, “The Ex List”) – who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren’t easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life with friends Leslie (Elizabeth Ho, “Women’s Murder Club”), Jill (Joy Suprano, NBC’s “Law & Order”), Mike (Christopher Moynihan “For Your Consideration”) and Wayne (David Walton “Quarterlife”). The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship. Ron West (“Psych”), Kelly Kulchak (“Psych”) and Michelle Nader (“King of Queens”) join Moynihan as executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Tagline.

COMMUNITY
From Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo (“Arrested Development”) comes “Community,” a smart comedy series about higher education — and lower expectations. The student body at Greendale Community College is made up of high-school losers, newly divorced housewives, and old people who want to keep their minds active. Within these not-so-hallowed halls, “Community” focuses on a band of misfits, at the center of which is a fast-talkin’ lawyer whose degree has been revoked (Joel McHale, “The Soup”), who form a study group and end up learning a lot more about themselves than they do about their course work. In addition to McHale, the series also stars: Gillian Jacobs (“The Book of Daniel”); Yvette Nicole Brown (“Rules of Engagement”); Danny Pudi (“Greek”); Alison Brie (“Mad Men”); and comedy legend Chevy Chase (“Saturday Night Live”). “Community” is a Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap and Russo Brothers production in association with Sony Pictures Television and Universal Media Studios. Russ Krasnoff (“The Soloist”), Dan Harmon (“The Sarah Silverman Program”), Joe Russo (“Arrested Development”), Anthony Russo (“Arrested Development”) and Gary Foster (“The Soloist”) serve as executive producers. Joe and Anthony Russo directed the pilot that was written by Dan Harmon.

Chuck Barney

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Why no mention of “Off Duty”? Or are you keeping us in suspense until the mid May release. There are so many fans out there who would love to see Bradley Whitford on the small screen again. Please put us out of our misery ASAP. We didn’t continue to adore him with that porn ‘stache for nothing!!!!

Alison

I’m sorry…but can someone please explain why they’re axing the best drama/crime show they’ve got going for them?
Life was a family show that anyone could watch. It was brilliant and witty and something FUN TO WATCH.
Is NBC stupid?
Just wondering….

~Alison

Delinda

Once again, NBC has missed the boat. Life was the best show on TV, but apparently was too smart for NBC execs to understand. I hope someone on cable picks this great show up. Damien Lewis is smart, sexy, funny, and talented.

Note to NBC…reality tv is done. Please stop dumbing down America.

Theresa

Life was intelligent, witty, interesting and just plain fun to watch. I always hesitate to get into a show with those qualities because they always get cut too short. I am not sure if the problem is that NBC (and other networks) just pander to the lowest denominator of viewer (ie. dumb down their programming) or if viewers are just dumb. I suspect it’s a little of both. Perhaps we need a network for we the minority who like these smart shows. I will miss Life and wish they could have at least tied up the loose ends instead of just dumping it. That’s just rude.

Kathleen

Once again, NBC shows it plays to the lowest denominator of an audience. Life was smart and funny with one VERy great actor in the lead role.

NBC will go the way of the Dodo bird if they keep this up. The upshot is I find I watch less and less network TV…it’s too stupid for words.

I’m sick of dancing stars and celebrity apprentices throwing insults at each other.

No Playhouse 90 for US!

Ed

Yes, Alison, NBC must be stupid for canceling Life. I agree that it was the best program on network TV. Why couldn’t they drop those dopey Law and Order programs that have worn out their welcome and become boring and redundant. I gave up on ABC a long time ago and now it looks like NBC is on its way out also.

Lou

NBC…no body cares, that you do not have the ability to understand what a good program Life was. You need to finish the show and not leave everyone hanging.

It really is discouraging to see that time and again the smart, witty, amusing dramas are cut and we are bombarded with “reality” or trashy talking “family”sitcoms. Apparently, Life was too intelligent to last . I will just turn the TV off on Wednesday night.

Rachel

I am so sick of the NBC idiots wanting to take away good things. I understand some shows just have ran the course but Life was amazing something New and Entertaining. I am about sick of NBC and I think I may just have to think real hard about watching anything that NBC shows. I guess I will go back to CBS and ABC.

Orangeblossom

I am sooooooo disappointed that Life is being cancelled. It was the best show ever! Maybe cable will pick it up. It was smart, sexy and definitely kept you thinking. NBC you are making a mistake!

James

I am hoping against hope that another network will pick up life, or at the very least, NBC will at least send it over to USA. It was the best show they had. I have been a loyal fan from the begining. Smart, witty, engaging, everything a good drama should be. What are we getting in it’s place? More low brow comedy? Another medi-drama (like no other network has one of those)? Will someone with intelligence please stage a coup at NBC!

Lover of LIFE!!

NBC canceling LIFE??!! Say it ain’t so!!! GREAT show. Interesting, smart, and Fun. GREAT cast. Damian Lewis, Donal Logue, Adam Arkin.
Someone should pick up this quality show. They will have a winner!!

Stupid NBC

Add me to the list of the dismayed about Life being cancelled. It was far and away the most interesting show on television. It was also the only NBC show I watch….and now there are none!

Charlie

Yes, NBC is stupid and they continue to prove it. This is the third show in as many Seasons that has been canceled by NBC. Life was one of the best Detective drama shows that I have seen on Television in a very long time.

This show really belongs on TNT (cable). Put this show in a Weekly line-up with “Saving Grace” and “The Closer” and watch the ratings sky rocket.

NBC has lost my attention and since they are quick to make these business decisions then maybe the best thing for an intelligent viewer is to remove NBC from your line up.

Andrea

It looks like I have no reason to watch NBC . Who was the idiot who chose to cancel “Life”. It was quirky, interesting ,and funny. The cast was an awesome one .
I don’t get it. Who is making these ridiculous decisions .

Kent

I didn’t start watching Life until season 2. I thought it was the best drama on TV, enough that I bought season 1 on DVD. It was entertaining, witty, funny, and the acting was superb. Let me add my hopes that it’ll be picked up by another network. NBC needs to clean house in the progrmming department rather than giving the axe to a quality progrm like Life.

Jeff

I don’t believe it. Another quality show taken off the air so that they may show more “reality T.V.” I know that it cost the networks more money to make a series drama, but that should not be a reason to take off a show like “Life” when they have so many “Law and Order” spin off shows.

Richard

“Life” was one the best show that me and my family were watching.
NBC so stupid to cancel it.
It was fun to watch it.
Never try to follow another show on NBC.

Me and my lovely wife

Life was the ONLY NBC show we truly looked forward to watching. Hope USA picks this up and puts it up there with Burn Notice, another fabulous show.

Shelley

NBC is run by idiots. “Life” was the only show on TV that I actually looked
forward to watching every week. One of my favorite shows of all time
and they cancel it. I give up.

Bob

Don’t you understand that as long as morons watch garbage shows and they get good ratings, networks are not going to pull those shows out. Those are the money makers that advertisers pick to show their commercials. What
we should do is boycott all the products that NBC has and continue to do so until they bring LIFE back. Write them letters also. NBC will only react when
their pockets are affected.

Carol

My goodness, NBC, such a good show, well written, wonderful intriquing actors and excellent storylines and poof a bad decision to cancel this show! What are you thinking. Please bring it back, it is a show that you could be proud of and America watched. Give it a chance again, it had spotty showings on the schedule. Let it go to cable like all the new and good shows are going. Hang on to this one!!!!

Carolyn G

I am sick of this……… Life and Eli Stone were two very good, great, fantastic shows……. I looked forward to them starting new each season… they were enlightening… now the executives at be, have taken them away……. grey’s anatomy has become boring …. ever since the episodes of the bomb in a chest cavity with meredith holding it only for the bomb squad to get it in the end…. ever since the episodes where the ferry had an accident and meredith drowned and crossed over to the other side to make peace with her mom…… since those episodes, which were the best ever, i have to force myself to watch just to see if they could top them…. they didn’t……. GOSH!!! why did you have to take away the two little shows just starting out…. they were good, I will miss Eli Stone and Life…………….. what a shame… you know what, this is a good time for me to stop being a couch potatoe and supporting these networks that don’t care about what we want……… this fall, I am not going to watch any network shows…. if they don’t care about us, well I am not going to support their new shows………………… Sincerely SaD

becky

Are you kiddin me Life ….really,such a different kind of show,will miss it!Bummed out,Becca

Mary

Went searching through the fall line-up and can’t tell you how disappointed I was to find no LIFE! I have really now lost all confidence in the “season fianle” process and looking forward to the next show only to find out it became the series finale. I agree with all of the comments posted. It is rude to cancel shows with no endings, and really leaves your faithful viewers hanging. I remember years and years ago that a show called Flamingo Road was cancelled, and I never got over not knowing what happened. Same with Las Vegas last year! No fair! How long do you think book stores would last if they ripped out the final chapters of books? You are doing the same thing, and that’s a shame! At least put in a system whereby viewers get to vote on if a show should be cancelled…………please!

“Life” was the only show on NBC I watched…goodbye NBC, you cater to the simple minds…hopefully a wiser network will pick up “Life” and those seeking intelligent programs will follow.

Karen

I can’t help but hold out hope that some cable channel will recognize what a great show Life is. I am really disappointed that NBC has yet again, thrown away a great show. Jay Leno 5 nights a week, you have got to be kidding me. Looks like I’m gonna get looks of sleep this season.

Roger

Cant believe that NBC would cut one of the wittiest shows on TV. I have struggled to find to find smart intelligent shows on American TV and thought I had hit the jackpot with LIFE only to have that taken away mid story. I and a number of friends continually gripe over the “reality” crap that exists on TV. Finding entertainment on TV is getting harder and harder – good news for NetFlix. And speaking of Jay Leno, watching paint dry would be more entertaining. LIFE no more, disapointing is a understatement. One can only question the taste of the excutives at NBC – glad their not running my business.

just found out that Life has been canceled. So why doesn’t it surprise me? Well, perhaps because it was fun, witty and smart. Great acting and great dialogue. NBC execs wouldn’t recognize a quality shows if it bit them in the ass. I stopped watching network television because it’s just plain stupid and boring. I can’t bear to see another medical show, reality show or a Law & Order episode. Life made my evenings fun and pleasurable. I really looked forward to it. I will miss it!!! I will use that time to catch up on my reading. NO NBC for me!! Go cater to your Dodo birds (as Kathleen put it)

I just found out that Life has been canceled. So why doesn’t it surprise me? Well, perhaps because it was fun, witty and smart. Great acting and great dialogue. NBC execs wouldn’t recognize a quality shows if it bit them in the ass. I stopped watching network television because it’s just plain stupid and boring. I can’t bear to see another medical show, reality show or a Law & Order episode. Life made my evenings fun and pleasurable. I really looked forward to it. I will miss it!!! I will use that time to catch up on my reading. NO NBC for me!! Go cater to your Dodo birds (as Kathleen put it)

Love this show it’s so funny, it is nice to see something so fresh and original.

LOVELIFE

I’m really sad that this show Life is canceled. What is it with NBC. They have no clue what they are doing. This whole Jay Leno thing is proof of that!!Its horrible to see they don.t care what we all think.

Jackie (Loved LIFE)

I too am amazed at how NBC would be so blind. LIFE was one of those programs that you just couldn’t get enough of. It was smart, fun, and entertaining for both my Husband and myself. I can’t believe that another network didn’t pick this up. Bring LIFE back and it will be a hit!

Amy Martin

Dear NBC, Are you completely insane? “Life” was the BEST show ever on tv. It was literally the only one my family and I looked forwrd to! I agree with previous posters, get rid of these ridiculous reality shows, really! I’m just shocked that you cancelled this one. Shame on you!

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